And then there were four. Ivory Coast’s Vakoun Issouf Bayo (22 tomorrow) arrived yesterday on a four year contract from Slovak club Dunajska Streda, bolstering Celtic’s striker count to four, after the arrival earlier this week of Timothy Weah. With the continued absence of Leigh Griffiths and injury to Odsonne Edouard, the club were forced to play teenage winger Mikey Johnston as striker last month.
I normally avoid YouTube videos of a prospect as they are notoriously edited, but we are able to view all of Vakoun’s goals online. What’s clear is that a higher percentage of his goals are headed than any player I’ve known. He made his Ivory Coast debut as a late substitute in a African Cup of Nations qualifier in October.
Celtic’s policy here was to be fleet of foot. They spent a reported £2m on a player who left African football 10 months ago and has played only 32 games in Europe. Had they continued to scout the player – and his form continued on its current trajectory, competition for his signature would have grown exponentially.
What has been more important on this occasion was the player’s African connections. Ivorian superstar Kolo Toure continued his stay in Glasgow as a Celtic coach after his playing career ended. He also coaches the Ivory Coast national and under-23 teams, so has witnessed Bayo’s progress through the ranks.
Every deal is a risk, but with Kolo’s assistance Vakoun has an excellent chance to settle into life in Glasgow.
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Boom boom boom….
Whit’s goan oan ??
I normally avoid YouTube videos of a prospect as they are notoriously edited
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Well, it is what is is, they show players best bits – as long as we all know the score, you know its not a complete representation of a players abilities.
You don’t want to watch him walking aff the team bus do you?
HH
Maybe get some goals from corners now – jings, that would be great, considering we get so many that we currently do nothing with. Greta to have a new weapon in the arsenal.
HH
BGFC
I would think the only”Best bits”of a striker are his goals,and assists.Dont care what league it is,the boy has been sensational in both.SO FAR.So well worth a punt.
Scores with the heed eh…
Awe we need noo is someone to cross it in and Weah in the money ?
H.H
Happy birthday to Corkcelt.
Not had the pleasure of visiting the fair city but there is always time and BMCUWP’s(late of this parish!) hootenanny placements to change that!!??.
Honest John – ” On The Journey”
TURKEYBHOY on 9TH JANUARY 2019 10:30 AM
I would think the only”Best bits”of a striker are his goals,and assists.Dont care what league it is,the boy has been sensational in both.SO FAR.So well worth a punt
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Theres a reason we don’t sign players based on youtube vids alone ;)
I love reading articles describing Rangers* as our ‘bitter rivals’. I always think how appropriate that is. They have one thousand , nine hundred and sixty seven bitter flavours stuck in their throats , that they will never , ever get rid of.
Really great to see big Nir back fully fit.Horrendous year for him.Best passer of a ball in our team.IMO,vastly underated.
The MIBS should declare which if any football club they support, then they shouldn’t be allowed to officiate in games that involve the team they follow.
Simple as that.
Or is it?
Problem being so many of them support the same club, so the club in question wouldn’t be able to fulfil fixtures because no referee would be available due to the conflict of interest.
Beaton supports Motherwell by the way, allegedly.
HH. ?
We are living in very interesting times at the moment.
Second Rate Sisterhood 2 — Sleekit / Sleazy / Slimy Political Dinosaur 1
Currently being sold as a huge victory to the Hertz man.
Best wee nation failing again at the basics.
All that was missing was the Edinburgh jury.
Then the DR is reporting that all is not well in the governance of Scottish football — things are so bad that we are now witnessing some very rare Ludge on Ludge action.
MIB Ludge vs SFA Ludge.
At least it helps us understand what we are up against.
MIB Ludge = Just hate us as a matter of history / personal upbringing / herd mentality.
SFA Ludge = They hate us because that is what today’s agenda tells them to do.
The current establishment policy is TFOD2.1 boosterism for revenue gain.
Keep them solvent to the end of the season and hopefully put us in our place.
They need a competive league to maximise the cash in Govan.
Both of these topics are linked by casual misogyny — very interesting regarding the country we claim to be.
Finally — have to bring up BrExit.
AS has endured much more intimidation than the MIB Ludge combined.
However she is still expected to carry out her role as an MP and take responsibility for her views and voting record.
Complex, mature and sophisticated society at work.
JB gets some stick and the story is about his situation and not about his performance.
The media could not wait to move the debate on from his decision making.
Shallow, limited and immature society at work.
TRADITIONALIST.,
I know that.Saying its all we have to look at the player.In saying that,easier to judge a
striker,than say a ny other outfield player.I mean,in 32 games they could show you a keeper make 20 great saves,but not show you his 20 howlers.CH,same.10 wonderful tackles,20 great headers,clearances,but miss out 20 howlers he did.In 32 games,does not matter with a striker.He might miss 20 great chances,but putting 23 in the net,and 7 assists,would make him a star.
P67
Pretty thin article.
Not sure if you are setting someone up for a fall.
Regarding the state of the nation — seemingly their is an interesting report in the DR regarding a recent court case.
Nat on Nat action at a RtB rally / commemoration.
Trads vs Mods / People’s Front of Galilee type bother that got people lifted.
Went to court and the outcome is another nail in coffin of Tartan Justice.
So interesting that I am going to buy a DR and posdibly a S*n.
Feedback on this appreciated as it would appear that quite a few people have jumped the shark on this.
SNP — Sorry no p***s ?!?
TURKEYBHOY on 9TH JANUARY 2019 10:52 AM
Yes, but Bangoura had more career goals than Bayo pre-Celtic.
That said, I believe there is reason to be more confident about Bayos prospects in the Hoops than the other guy.
HH
Chairbhoy
“The point is you fail to mention the wonderful advantageous position Celtic found itself in when Rangers died.
Celtic for five years after that event had almost guaranteed access to the UCL Qualifiers, we were put in the Champions route to the qualify for the group stages and were very unlikely to face a team with our resources, even if we failed to get to the league stage, we had an even easier route to the Euros.
How many Clubs in Europe had that?? Not One But Us!!
OK- What the death of Rangers did was give us an easier (never a guaranteed) run at the title and, therefore, an easier chance to qualify for the qualifiers ; it did not ease the qualifying route to the Group Stages.
We won the 2012/13 league by 16 points and subsequent leagues by 29, 17, and 44 points until Sevco appeared in the top flight in 2016/17. We then won the league by 30 points with Sevco 9 behind our nearest challenger , Aberdeen. And last year’s league by 9 pts with the same top 3 teams.
All these titles earned us direct entry into qualifying round 2 of the CL, except the last one where we had to start at round 1.
The advantage thet the death of Rangers gave us, we took. We won each league and then 2 months later, often with a different squad, we faced our CL qualifiers. We had earned no advantage over our competitors that we met there; they were unaffected by the death of Sevco. Some of our competitors were “advantaged” by being in the midst of their next season by the time qualifiers came around but that is a “swings and roundabouts” type of advantage. Yes , we werre financially stronger than most of our competitors at that stage but, as we reached final qualifying stages we came across teams that were closer to us and close enough for an adverse result to occur.
In 2012/13 we qualified with 100% record, made the Group Stages and lost in the round of 16. Next year, we made the grup stage also, finishing 4th behind Barca, AC and Ajax. In 2014/15, we messed up, scraping through against Legia and getting our just desserts vs Maribor and getting knocked into the Europa League where we again made post-Xmas and lost in the last 32 to Inter. In 2015/16, we had a disaster- knocked out at the play-off round by the smaller club, Malmo (still have a better TV deal) and a terrible Europa campaign vs Ajax, Fenerbache and Molde, where we , shamefully finished 4th- now that was a failing year. In 16/17, we made CL group stages, but finished in our seeding position 4th, behind Barca, Man City and Gladbach. Last year we qualified for CL and finished 3rd before losing to Zenit in post-Xmas Europa last 32 action. 3 times out of 5 we made the CL Group stage, once into last 16, and twice we were in the Europa (knocked out by Maribor and Malmo) but made last 32 of Europ on one of those 2. That leaves, in my mind, only one failing year (2015/16)
We had an open goal an we failed to capitalise on that.
Yes, for 2015/16. I cannot see any other open goals unless you are peddling the unprovable hypothesis that, if we spent a little more, Maribor and Molde can be guaranteed not to happen. Are you advancing that view, that you can remove or drastically reduce sporting risk?
We have Billionaire shareholders, we have one of the greatest attendances in Europe, we have the greatest supporters in Europe. We represent the Geal, so not only our kinsfolk in Scotland, Ireland and the rest of the British Isles but a Global diaspora that we can mobilise. “
Oh! I really don’t buy most of this. I don’t care about the wealth of our shareholders. If we start to develop a transfer policy or wage structure, based on “Sugar Daddy” financing, then that way lies Sevco 2012 outcomes. We should run on what we earn. We have a great attendance and support (“Greatest Supporters” is just bombast and self-praise) but unfortunately we do not earn as much from gate money as others get through TV money, which distorts our standing in the game, and affects other big proud clubs like Anderlecht, Legia, Ferencvaros, Slavia Prague etc to create barriers to clubs from peripheral leagues. Finally, I love our Irish support and marvel at the efforts they make but there are far more Man U, Liverpool and, god forbid, supporters of Chelsea in the Republic and, in some parts of the North, than there are for Celtic. We have been forgotten about entirely by the Welsh, the Breton and the Cornish. Thiugh, to be fair, the Manx have given us KT.
“Why have you got a list of why Celtic should be allowed to fail
Yet totally fail to highlight the huge advantages Celtic have had over their peers…”
A “when did you stop beating your wife” type of question framing. I have outlined the reasons and barriers that exist to prevent us and clubs like us, from breaking into the Big 5 league monopoly that is CL riches. You describe this as “allowing us to fail”. If you want to avoid failure, don’t play sport or enter any competition because no matter how good you are, you will lose some and often to supposed “lesser” contenders. History is littered with examples.
I agree that there have been many occasions where we could and should have done better but I don’t buy into the “specualte to accumulate” myth when you are in a monopoly market, nor into the “if it wisnae for the suits, we would be up there with the Barcas and Man U’s of this world.
Let’s be real… Celtic Have had a huge opportunity in the last five seasons and through it away…”
What should we have won that we didn’t and what were the reasons for it? I saw Celtic be perennial first and second round losers in Europe from 1975 to 2001. That is as big a part of our history as is the glorious period of 66 to 74. Since 2001 we have had around 17 years of relatively better Euro success. You are describing the last 5 years as a failure even though we have had a pretty consistent record of achieving our set ceiling as one of many cannon fodder 4th seed CL participants and have surpassed that setting on 1 occasions to reach last 16 of CL, an end feat that I regard as equivalent to our Seville year, though not with the associated emotions.
If we are to “get real”, maybe you could provide the parameters of success we should have had as 5 league titles, 2 domestic trebles, 3 CL Group qualifying stages and one post Xmas Europa qualification in the past 5 years is being touted as failure. What does success look like?
Aff oot
Sorry Chairbhoy
Above post is available at the end of the last thread with bolding that seperates your points for mine.
It is difficult for anyone to majke sense of the above post without that distinction
Aff oot
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX
Small point – Chelsea have supporters in the Republic but its nowhere near the level of support we have there,
HH
Quite encouraging Bayo appears to scoring with his head too.
But for that to occur you need to be on the receiving end of good quality crosses to give you something to work with. An area we struggle with at times. Infuriating number of crosses hit the first man or, unfathomably, are kicked straight out of play.
Maybe we should check out whos been providing the assists in Slovakia…
HH
SFTB @ 11.03
I think you doth protest too much.
We are currently under performing as a club and as a team.
Change is required because our current standards will not deliver the levels of performance that we are capable off.
Change happened between 1975 and 2001.
The need for change or improvement did not stop 18 years ago.
Just a case thatthe things that needed improvement “changed”.
Squad development and a progressive wage structure became issues and this brought in more change.
Currently we have an overpaid underperforming CEO in desperate need of a new challenge away from CP — that is our new challenge.
Along with BR maturing as a manager and a complete refurb of the youth set up.
Today’s Castagne click bait stuff .
Lazio and Fiorentina are in hot pursuit of his signature . Napoli might be joining them .
As for Lazio . Annual ” Birthday Party ” in La Piazza della Liberta last night . Fighting broke out between 2 groups of Ultras : Plod forced to draw batons and fire tear gas cannisters : Happy birthday Lazio !
SOUTH OF TUNIS on 9TH JANUARY 2019 11:27 AM
Today’s Castagne click bait stuff …
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SoT – seemed to be some stuff on here yesterday about what his agreed fee was (Euro 5M or Euro 6M) – don’t know where that came from, or how anyone would possibly know that.
Have you any thoughts on whether Celtic are in with a realistic chance of getting him (if, indeed, they are actually trying to get him)?
HH
BGFC
Nat on Nat stushie …
We used to have the Edinburgh jury to worry about.
Now we have the Stirling JP to add to the list.
Seeds of the Gaels — lovely bunch of identity politics numpties I’m sure.
We can always blame the schools — The retort should have been Teuchter and not orange.
Do you think young Mr Bayo will wonder why the Celtic fans hold his country’s flag upside down?
Have we signed anyone today ?
No ?
Sack Lawell.
BIG GEORGES FAN CLUB
Castagne ? .
I know nothing .Lot of smoke and mirrors. He’s been a long running story in the media . Allegedly wanting away in consequence of not playing enough , allegedly staying having been assured that he will play more often . Allegedly of interest to Celtic , Hoffenheim , Swansea , Lazio , Fiorentina and Napoli . Mainstream media have consistently linked him with Lazio and Fiorentina . The Fitba Pink linked him with Celtic and then claimed that the player wasn’t keen on playing in Scotland . Money (euros ) quoted varies between 6 million , more than 6 million , 7.5 million . 10 million and 11 million . Saw an alleged quote from his agent yesterday ” offers of more than 6 million ” . Who Knows ?
I’ve seen him a lot on the tele .. Very good player (IMO ) I like watching Atalanta . Play attractive football.
Ok so thats corners sorted
Can we get someone who can save a penalty every now and again?
HEADTHEBALL
When he scores and does an Efe Ambrose style somersault he will be able to view the flag correctly.
Great motivational idea from the support!
Anyone translate maditchs post for me????
Infact its awe right, I dont want to know .
??????
50 SHADES OF GREEN on 9TH JANUARY 2019 12:42 PM
Anyone translate maditchs post for me????
Infact its awe right, I dont want to know .
??????
—————–
50SOG.
MM posts. NAWE
IAALOS
NOTTHEBUS
With the willingness of the cheats with whistles to give penalties against us our goalies will have lots of practice,
Practice makes perfect and the law of averages says we are getting closer to saving one.
Son of a gun , we’ll have some fun with Big Bayo !
The Carpenters CSC
Cheers SoT.
We used to have the assertion from Paul67 that “If it is being discussed in the press, then you know Celtic aren’t interested”.
I suppose that hope / approach isn’t sustainable now with so many media outlets searching for any hint of information that they can spalsh accross their clickbait platforms. Bayo, Weah and Burke transfers were all out in the media long before they were over the line.
Anyway – Castagne – doesn’t sound, at the moment, to be much of a chance of him being at Celtic Park anytime soon – hardly a “pleasce Celtic come and end my Atalanta hell” feeling about it.
Thanks again for your thoughts on it.
HH
BGFC
In an alternative universe, where he signed for Sevco instead of us:
Saving nickels, saving dimes
Working till the sun don’t shine
Looking forward to happier times
On Blue Bayo
HH
BGFC
HEBCELT on 9TH JANUARY 2019 9:12 AM
Good evening CQN from Mrs Hebcelt and I here in Miri, Borneo where it is a comfortable 30c we are in the the last two weeks of a ten week holiday to South East Asia
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Get yourself down to Ming’s Cafe for a wee drink.
Encouraging early signs in the transfer window. It looks like we’re trying to inject more pace and power into our attacking options. The role Kolo Toure has played at Celtic since his arrival is one that is often overlooked. Kolo was instrumental in helping a newly arrived Moussa Dembele settle into life in Scotland by taking him into his home to live with his family in the early days. As well as a great player in his time, and I hope having a great eye for a striker, he seems a thoroughly decent person.
BIG GEORGES FAN CLUB – HAIL, HAIL, WEE OSCAR on 9TH JANUARY 2019 11:37 AM
seemed to be some stuff on here yesterday about what his agreed fee was (Euro 5M or Euro 6M) – don’t know where that came from, or how anyone would possibly know that.
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Castagne’s agent was quoted yesterday in the Italian media saying Atalanta would accept 6 million Euros.
So that’s where it came from, and I didn’t profess to “know that”; I simply passed the report on.